Odisha gears up to commemorate 200 years of ‘Paika Rebellion’

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 22:

The state government has drawn up a series of events to observe the completion of 200 years of ‘Paika Rebellion’, the armed rebellion against the British East India Company’s rule in Odisha.

“Two hundred years of ‘Paika Rebellion’ will be observed with a series of programmes on behalf of the State Culture Department. The observance will include seminar, publication, exhibition, opening of a new gallery and memorial pillar etc,” said Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister, Tourism & Culture here.

The state government has decided to organise colourful programmes on the occasion of two hundred years of ‘Paika Rebellion’, first of its kind in the history of freedom movement of India.

Leaflets, pamphlets and brochures on Paika Rebellion have already been published by Odisha State Archives, which will also bring out books on the rebellion on Hindi, Odia and English. Odisha Sahitya Akademi will organise a seminar in New Delhi while it will invite poets to recite in a poets meet. Martial Art like Paika Akhada, Chhau, Ranapa etc will be organised by Odisha Sangeeta Natak Akademi followed by a drama on the life of great Paika leader Baxi Jagabandhu.

“Odisha Lalita Kala Akademi will organise a thematic painting exhibition and another exhibition of arms and armouries of Paika or warrior community of state. A special gallery will be set up in Odisha State Museum in this regard,” said Manoranjan Panigrahy, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Culture.

Theme of Paika Rebellion will be included in Governor’s Trophy competitions and a memorial pillar named ‘Paika Amar Jyoti Stambha’ will be erected by the Department of Tourism.

The Amar Jyoti pillar will be set up at Barunei and exhibition organised on the foothills of Barunei hills, the centre of activity of the Paikas during the revolt.

Paikas revolted against the British Empire on March 29, 1817, long before the 1857 Sepoy mutiny.